Battery Wall Lights That Look Hardwired: How to Hide the Cable and Get the Look
Why sconces suit battery
A small wall light only needs a small amount of power for a soft glow. Our plaster sconces are decorative ambient lights rather than task lights, which is the job battery power does well. Sconces are an old idea: the V&A notes that sconces may have developed from fixing a reflecting plate behind a candle.[1] Because nothing is wired in, a battery sconce also suits a rental, although the fixing may still need your landlord's agreement.[2]
Positioning
| Room | Typical height |
|---|---|
| Hallway | About 150 to 165cm to the centre |
| Beside a bed | About 100 to 120cm above the floor, near head height seated |
| Either side of a mirror | Eye level, roughly 150cm |
These are starting points (our rules of thumb, not a standard). Sconces and mirrors have long worked together: Georgian sconces often had a mirror behind them to reflect more light.[3] If you hardwire later, remember the switch sits lower than the light: Approved Document M expects switches in new homes at 450 to 1200mm above the floor.[4] Keep sconces on stairs clear of the line of travel so they are not an impact risk.[5] See wall light heights and spacing.
Finishing touches
Paint the sconce the same colour as the wall so it reads as a feature of the wall, or one shade deeper. See fitting and painting.
When to choose hardwired instead
If you want the light on a switch, use it daily or want no batteries to change, choose the hardwired option and have a qualified electrician fit it.[6][7] A registered electrician works to BS 7671,[8] and cables in walls should run horizontally or vertically from accessories, so do not chase blind.[9] Read how to power wall lights.
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Frequently asked questions
Are battery wall lights bright?
They give soft ambient light rather than task lighting.
What batteries do the lights take?
Most of our sconces take 3 x AA batteries, not included. Check each listing.
Can the same light be hardwired?
Many are available as battery or hardwired. Hardwiring should be done by a qualified electrician.
Can I control the light?
Battery models come with a remote. See each listing.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (n.d.) Sconce, by John Boddington (museum no. M.50A-1959). V&A. Available at: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82218/sconce-boddington-john/ (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Shelter England (2026) Making improvements to your rented home. Shelter. Available at: england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/making_impr... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Taylor, J. (1998) Light fittings in Georgian and early Victorian interiors. The Building Conservation Directory, Cathedral Communications. Available at: buildingconservation.com/articles/light98/georgian-lighti... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2015) Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments). HM Government. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-and-use-of-b... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (2017) LG16: Lighting for stairs. CIBSE. Available at: cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/lighting-gu... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Part P of the Building Regulations. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-a-registered-electr... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Choosing a registered electrician. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-a-registered-electr... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (n.d.) BS 7671 - 18th Edition: the IET Wiring Regulations. IET. Available at: electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/ (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Electrical safety advice for DIY-ers. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-p... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
How to cite this article
Tire, G. (2026) ‘Battery Wall Lights That Look Hardwired: How to Hide the Cable and Get the Look’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/battery-wall-lights-that-look-hardwired (Accessed: 12 November 2026).
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